We don’t see much of Wilmington writer Karen E. Bender, since she became a professor of creative writing up at Hollins University in Virginia.

So, it was nice to hear that she has a new collection of short stories, titled “The New Order,” coming out in November from Counterpoint Press.

This should be a biggie. Bender’s last collection, “Refund” (2015), was short-listed for the National Book Award and the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Prize.

Bender (who happens to be the sister of author Aimee Bender) is also the author of the novels “Like Normal People” and “A Town of Empty Rooms,” and was co-editor of the anthology “Choice” with fellow local author Nina De Gramont.

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About This Blog

This is an emporium for all things literary: occasional book reviews, local book news, items about authors (mostly from the Cape Fear area but occasional visitors) and miscellaneous rants.

The usual author is Ben Steelman, feature writer and book columnist for the Star-News. He’s that shaggy, slightly smelly character you spot lurking in the back aisles of your local bookstore. Physically, he has more than a passing resemblance to Ignatius J. Reilly, hero of John Kennedy Toole’s “A Confederacy of Dunces” — some observers have noted other parallels as well.